Whangarei-born Tracey Benjamin only started ultra-distance running this year but it seems she has found her niche, winning the 100km Sri Chinmoy Christchurch event.
The 36-year-old lapped the 2.5km Hagley Park circuit 40 times on Sunday and was the first woman to cross the finish line in a time of 10
hours and 34 minutes. She placed 4th overall in the small field of dedicated runners.
"There were times where I thought 'what was I doing out here?' but I broke down the run into 2.5km and every 2.5km I would see my mum Maree Benjamin, who was my support person and she would check on me, check my hydration and encourage me," Benjamin said.
Hitting the 30km mark was testing for Benjamin. She had a few issues with the tape on her feet to prevent blisters and had to stop. She questioned whether she could make it. However, she soldiered on and once she hit 60km, there was no doubt in her mind she would finish the event.
The now-Auckland based accountant comes from a running family. Both her mum and dad were good marathon runners, she said. She ran for the Athletics Whangarei Harriers as a youngster and got back into her running when she hit her 30s. "After running a few half marathons, I thought I would have a go at doing a 50km ... so I ended running 50km before I did a full marathon [42km]."
After her first marathon, Benjamin decided she preferred the longer distances, and her short yet successful ultradistance running career got under way.
She completed her first 100km event in February - at the Athletics NZ 100km Championships in Taupo - and was the 5th woman home in 11h 5m.
"I like the challenge and get enjoyment out of running long distances. Even my training runs - I will chuck a pack on my back and run about 68km - I get a buzz out of finishing those and achieving that."
She took a short break from training, but is now focussed on completing the 2011 Athletics NZ 100km Championships on February 19.
Unless the very top runners pull out with injury, Benjamin said her chances of winning the national event were slim - but that would not stop her from trying her best, with plenty of support from fellow competitors and spectators alike.
"The ultra distance scene is fantastic. Because there is such a small number of runners involved, everyone is really encouraging. It's very different from the marathon scene where the gun goes and people sprint off.
"In ultradistance, everyone takes off in their own time," she said.
Whangarei-born Tracey Benjamin only started ultra-distance running this year but it seems she has found her niche, winning the 100km Sri Chinmoy Christchurch event.
The 36-year-old lapped the 2.5km Hagley Park circuit 40 times on Sunday and was the first woman to cross the finish line in a time of 10
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